Yes, we were a bit bedraggled by the time we stopped for our refreshments at the ADEPS cafeteria! It was warm though and our friend, Maija, (2nd right) shared some fine chocolates infused with delicious Finnish Lakka liquor. Umm ... our "Thanks" Maija ... and we look forward to your next visit in Brussels!!!

Our "thanks" to Jennifer and her gps for the Google map. We started the walk from the top of this picture (under the shadow of the E-411 motorway where we also parked our cars). Jennifer also provided the following statistics: Our distance: 7.8 km, our time: 1 hr. 45 min.'s, our avg. speed: 4.2 kph, calories expended: 517 (never enough) Total ascent: 972 m, Total descent: 998

Saturday, 27 October 2007

Somewhat dwarfed by the tall trees (in the photo) we were delighted with the fall colors as we made our way around the grounds of the Chateau de la Hulpe. With the temperature between 8-10C we warmed up quickly.

It is always nice to get to this ... the end point of our outing routine, too! Here we can sit, relax a bit and talk of our adventure while we enjoy our refreshments! Today it was at the cafe, l'Homme Bleu ... across from the Foundation Folon

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

Off we went at 1pm on schedule ... leaving from Jennifer's house through the fields nearby. It was a beautiful fall day ... quite cool to start but the views were marvelous! Thanks Jennifer ... we welcome your doing this for us on another occasion!

We had a variety of venues on the walk and really enjoyed the changing colors of the trees as we made our way along Jennifer's route. We passed Stone Manor as well as the Chateau for the Duke of Merode (???). Quite impressive ... all.

A lucky 13 of us gathered for the walk today. We were practically blinded by the bright, strong sun and eventually shed our jackets as we warmed up during Jennifer's 6.63k, 1:35 minute walk. This meant that we expended 367 calories ... Let's see ... how many of Jennifer's delicious scones does that mean we could devour??? Jennifer insists that they are truly small ... and don't count for many calories ... Whew!

Our thanks to Jennifer (2nd left) for her generous hospitality, too! We enjoyed her delicious 2 varieties of scones ... those made with herb and cheese as well as those with raisins! In addition, she provided us with cake and crab apple jelly! Some of us "non-Brits" tried Marmite for the first time ... Well, .... um. That must be an aquired taste! Hot coffee and teas ... just were perfect with the scones and cake!!! Yum ... We shall return!

Friday, 19 October 2007

Even though it was a bit overcast it was a lovely afternoon for our wanderings through the foret de soignes and the arboretum under the guidance of Marie Jo who knows the area well. The trees are changing color so it was a lovely time to be out to enjoy the beauty so near by for many of us!

Fifteen of us and Spartacus were here to enjoy the walk in the forest of Jezus Eik and here we paused to show who was on hand today. It seems when food is mentioned it does seem to bring out a crowd. Hmm ...is there a message there?

Our many "thanks" go to Marie Jo who not only led the walk today but she made the arrangements with the owners of the Restaurant Mercator to provide this large table to enjoy our refreshments in their back private dining room! We were served promptly with our hot beverage of choice as well as the sugar crepes. YUM!!!

Our many thanks to Jennifer and her personal "guru" for providing this google map overview of our route on Monday using her wrist gps. Are we impressed? Yes, we are! We seemed to have covered quite a bit of territory ladies - congratulations.

We were trying to get some of the beautiful background in the field behind us but the large group of us sort of dominated the photo. We were pleased; however, to welcome back one of our very faithful, former walkers, Linda, from So. France (kneeling) who we were pleased to see continues to set a good pace!

We took our refreshments this afternoon at Miam, nearby, where the manager knows us and gives us the choice table ... large enough to accomodate the group. The walkers are holding up the Hawaiian flip flop key rings that Sandy brought back for each of them as a symbol of the Hawaiian ... walking shoe! Would that the weather here would cooperate so that we could wear flip flops more often...

After trying to load this photo about 10 times it finally went on line! Not that it is that great but it shows us on Friday's walk when the weather was a bit overcast and misty but no real rain. Inspite of the less than perfect weather it was a good walking day and we all had a good time!photo

The ladies sorted through the colorful key chains of flip flops while waiting for our refreshments at Au Repos des Chasseurs. Sandy brought them back from her trip (one per walker while supplies last) as a reminder of the Hawaiian "walking shoe"!

Here are most of us assembled for the walk in the Nature Preserve with Cecile (left) and Ghislaine (right) in the lead. We were pleased to have Cecile meet our train as we pulled into the Heist Station and we were all delighted by her invitation to visit at the shore on this beautiful fall day! Who knew in the spring when we planned this that the weather would cooperate??? "Thanks Cecile"!!!